Babergh

Babergh's population grew between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, marriage and work life.

The population reached nearly 88,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Babergh increased by 5.1%, from almost 83,500 to 87,700.

The addition of just under 4,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Babergh was home to, on average, 1.1 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was lower than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Babergh

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Babergh increased by three years, from 42 to 45 years.

This rural area had a higher average age than Eastof England and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 3,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 14% of people in Babergh are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Babergh by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Babergh

The number of people in Babergh from the White ethnic groups increased from just over 82,000 in 2001 to about 86,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 98%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Babergh from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 480 in 2001 to about 830 in 2011 (from 0.6% to 0.9%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 340 to about 670 (from 0.4% to 0.8%).

Just over 260 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 160 in 2001 (0.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Babergh remained close to 98%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Babergh by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Babergh that rented privately increased from 7.9% to 13% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 13%, while the percentage of Babergh households that owner their home decreased from 76% to 72%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Babergh increased by 4.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Babergh, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in Babergh

The percentage of married people fell in Babergh, but at a slower rate than in nearby Ipswich.

In Babergh, the proportion of married people decreased from 58% in 2001 to 55% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Ipswich decreased from 49% to 44%.

Across Eastof England, the share of married people decreased from 54% to 50%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Babergh increased from 23% to 26%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10% to 12%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Babergh working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Babergh decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Babergh, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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